People, Locations, Episodes

Tue, 12.30.1975

Tiger Woods, Golfer born

On this date in 1975, "Tiger" Woods was born. He is a Black and Asian American professional golfer.

Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, born in Cypress, CA, is a golf prodigy.  His father, Earl Woods, taught his son to play golf before the boy could even read. His mother, Kutilda Punsawad Woods, comes from Thailand.

By the age of six, he had recorded two holes-in-one. By 1996, he possessed a complete and polished game, with the power to routinely hit 300-yard drives and the touch crucial for a solid "short game" (shots closer to the hole and putting). When Woods decided to leave Stanford University to play professional golf, he had collected many amateur titles.

Under his belt were six United States Golf Association national championships, a National College Athletic Association championship, and three consecutive U.S. Amateur championships. Woods successfully joined the professional ranks by winning two of his first seven tournaments. In April 1997, Woods won the Masters Tournament, shooting a record-setting 270 and winning by the largest margin in Masters history (12 strokes). He also set a handful of unofficial records, including being the first African American-Asian American to win a major golf tournament and the youngest Masters winner.

Woods ended 1997 with four tournament wins and nine top-ten finishes overall. Woods has had a great impact on the social aspects of golf. When Woods won the Masters, many credited him with breaking racial stereotypes. Woods cited Black golfers who paved the way for him, such as Lee Elder, the first African American to play in the Masters, Ted Rhodes, the first African American to play in the U.S. Open, and Charlie Sifford. In 2000, he won the British Open and the U.S. Open while breaking Ben Hogan’s 52-year-old record for the most major tournament victories in a year.

Woods was selected as Player of the Year in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. This is awarded by the PGA TOUR (Jack Nicklaus Award), the PGA of America, and the Golf Writers Association of America. His adjusted scoring average in 2000 of 67.79 strokes was the lowest ever-breaking his record of 68.43 in 1999-and he earned the Byron Nelson Award on the PGA TOUR and the Vardon Trophy from the PGA of America.

In addition to the respect and admiration of his tour colleagues, Woods has increased golf's popularity among African Americans and other minorities. Woods is now a five-time PGA Player of the Year in his seven full seasons on tour. He is the first representative of the two races and the youngest golfer to win a major golf tournament.  Woods also conducts his annual charity tournament, the Target World Challenge.

Woods married Swedish model Elin Nordegren at a resort in Barbados in October 2004, and they have two children and have since divorced.  In 2014, Woods played with a bad back and eventually pulled out of the PGA tour to address his injuries.  In 2018, he returned to the PGA tour with mediocre results compared to his championship past.  He was severely injured in an automobile accident in 2021.

To become a Professional Athlete.